Eruptions. MOUNT .ETNA. 33. Route. 9^5
Vulcan. It is, however, remarkable that the Greek mariners' tra¬
ditions in Homer do not allude to its volcanic character. Pindar,
on the other hand, describes an eruption previous to 476. About
SO eruptions fall within the limits of history. The most violent
were those of B. C. 396, 126 and 122, and A. D. 1169, 1329.
1537 and 1669. The latter, one of the most stupendous, has
been described by the naturalist Borelli. On that occasion the
Monti Rossi were formed, 27,000 persons were deprived of all
shelter and many lives were lost in the rapidly descending streams
of lava. In 1693 an eruption was accompanied by a fearful earth¬
quake, which partially or totally destroyed 40 towns and caused
a loss of 60—100,000 livens. An eruption took place in 1755,
the year of the earthquake at Lisbon. That of 1792 has been
described by Ferrara and others. In 1843 and 1S52 lava-streams
burst forth near Bronte and in the Val di Bove, and the last
eruption of Feb. 1st. 1865, occurred at the base of the great
crater of Monte Frumento, N. W. of the principal crater. An
eruption takes place, on an average, once in ten years.
Catania is quitted by the long Str. Etnea, and a succession
of country-estates are passed. The traveller whose time is not
too circumscribed should not omit to visit the park of the Mar-
chese S. Giuliano, at Licatia, a short distance to the r. of the
road. The ascent becomes more rapid; Gravina is passed, then
Mascalucia (4000 inhab.) and farther on Torre di Grifo (Torre-
lifo). Between this and Nicolosi a barren tract, the lava-stream of
1537, is traversed. The round and tall bushes of broom (genista
Etnensis) which flourish here form a peculiar feature of the scene.
To the 1. tower the reddish Monti Rossi, which may be ascended
with tolerable facility (2 hrs. there and back). They command a
fine view, especially towards the S. The soil contains a number
of crystals of pyroxene.
The mules, provisions etc. being prepared, the traveller starts
from Nicolosi and proceeds for nearly another hour in a N. di¬
rection (a portion of the route which will be found especally hot
and fatiguing after the descent from the cooler mountain air).
The ascent of the forest - region now begins, at first somewhat
precipitous; the path winds and in many places traverses small
ravines. After another hour the Casa del Bosco Rinazzi (good
drinking-water) is reached, near which several other houses stand,
among which one appertaining to Duke Alba in a chestnut-planta¬
tion. The mules are sometimes here fed. The path ascends first
in one direction, then in another, in a hollow between smaller
extinct volcanoes, until, about 6800 ft. above the sea, the Regione
deserta is entered. The ascent is at first moderate. To the r. is
seen the Montagnuolo, the W- extremity of the Serra del Solfizio,
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